Google Extends Gmail SMS to More African Countries

Google has extended its Gmail SMS chat functionality to three more African countries, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi.

Gmail SMS allows anyone worldwide to communicate with fellow Gtalk chat users even when they’re away from their computer. This year, Google added the extension to Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Zambia.

Africa is a continent of mobile users so this tool seems like a good move by Google.

Gmail users can send and receive SMS messages for free using the service. (Non-Gmail users can SMS for regular text charges.)

Divon Lan, Google Product Manager for Sub Saharan Africa, wrote on the Google Africa Blog said the mobile carriers that provide the service include MTN, Uganda Telecom and Orange in Uganda, Vodacom in Tanzania and Airtel and Airtel and TNM in Malawi.